Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 07 of 10Fletcher, John
General
Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 07 of 10
Fletcher, John
English drama
_Nor._ Yes: coil'd up in a Cable, like salt Eels,
Or buried low i' th' ballast, do you call that fighting?
Where be your wounds? your knocks? your want of limbs rogues?
Art not thou he that ask'd the Master-gunner
Where thou mightst lie safest? and he strait answered,
Put thy head in that hole, new bor'd with a Cannon;
For 'twas an hundred to one, another shot would not hit there:
Your wages you shall have, but for rewards
Take your own waies: and get ye to the Taverns;
There, when ye are hot with Wine, 'mongst your admirers,
Take Ships, and Towns, and Castles at your pleasures,
And make the Great _Turk_ shake at your valors.
Bring in the prisoners now, my brave Musslemen.
_Enter Prisoners, and_ Luscinda.
You that are Lords o' th' Sea, and scorn us _Christians_,
Which of your mangy lives is worth this hurt here?
Away to prison with 'em, see 'em safe;
You shall find we have Gallies too, and slaves too.
_1 Sold._ What shall be done with this woman, Sir?
_Nor._ Pox take her,
'Twas she that set me on to fight with these rogues,
That Ring-worm, rot it: what can you do now
With all your paintings, and your pouncings, Lady,
To restore my blood again? you, and your _Cupid_
That have made a Carbinado of me, plague take ye,
Ye are too deep ye rogue, this is thy work woman,
Thou lousie woman; 'death, you goe too deep still.
The seeing of your simpring sweetness: ---- ye Filly,
Ye Tit, ye Tomboy, what can one nights gingling,
Or two, or ten, sweet heart, and oh my dear chicken,
Scratching my head, or fumbling with my fore-mast,
Doe me good now? ye have powder'd me for one year,
I am in souce I thank ye; thank your beauty,
Your most sweet beauty: pox upon those goggles.
We cannot fight like honest men, for honor,
And quietly kill one another as we ought,
But in steps one of you; the devils holiness
And you must have a daunce: away with her,
She stinks to me now.
_1 Sold._ Shall I have her Captain?
_2 Sold._ Or I?
_3 Sold._ I'll marry her.
_4 Sold._ Good Captain, I.
_3 Sold._ And make her a good _Christian_; lay hands off her;
I know she's mine.
_2 Sold._ I'll give my full share for her: have ye no manners;
To thrust the woman so?
_Nor._ Share her among ye;
And may she give ye as many hurts as I have,
And twice as many aches.
_Lusc._ Noble Captain,
Be pleas'd to free me from these Soldiers wildness,
Till I but speak two words.
_Nor._ Now for your Maidenhead,
You have your book, proceed.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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